You could feel the energy in Zilker Park was different the minute you stepped on the grounds for the final day of weekend one of the Austin City Limits Music Festival (ACL Fest) on Sunday, October 6. There was a buzz of expectation that hung over the park like electric fog in some unreal musical utopia that culminated in a landmark performance for Lizzo. When the red-hot singer was booked for the festival her popularity was on the rise, but now she’s exploded with top singles and an album on the Billboard Top 200 chart. Moreover, the singer born Melissa Viviane Jefferson has garnered what is thought to be the largest minor stage (Miller Lite) audience in the history of the 18 year-old event. In short, Lizzo owned ACL Fest the same way one would take possession of a seat on a throne. She was queen and knew what to do with that command over her audience.
Banks – Miller Lite Stage
Earlier in the day we caught the singer known as Banks on the same stage. The Jillian Rose Banks’ debut album Goddess (2014) was certified platinum, launching the performer onto the festival circuit. Banks’ musical style fit the audience that was already getting into position for Lizzo two hours later. The anticipatory tension was palpable even as the singer cavorted across the stage and Austin darling Kacey Musgraves prepared to perform at the opposite end of the park. It was Lizzo’s moment to seize.
Billy Strings – BMI
Before that happened, we hustled over to the BMI Stage for Billy Strings. The acoustic, bluegrass /acid grass player impressed with a full string band featuring stand-up bass, banjo and mandolin in addition to his startlingly dexterous guitar chops. This dude can sizzle when he wants to bring the heat which was early and often during the truncated portion of the set we had the opportunity to catch. With a huge jam band scene following and a growing popular culture influence, expect big things from Strings and co. We’re already looking forward to their next Austin date so we can hear more in a better suited venue than a daytime slot at ACL Fest, which was fine but not ideal perhaps with the Lizzo performance percolating across the field. Fans could feel this was going to be a moment. The air was charged with expectation.
Lizzo – Miller Lite Stage
While Lizzo’s 7 p.m. slot at Miller Lite was, indeed a headlining slot for that stage, it quickly became apparent the festival may have miscalculated just how popular the purple-maned singer’s set would be. With over an hour before set time, there was an enormous crowd waiting out front, while celebrities, guests and music industry folks crowded into the backstage area for glimpse of the beyond-buzzworthy singer who has a single, “Truth Hurts”, that has been sitting atop the Billboard Hot 100 Chart for six weeks. The record is number eight, and there is no reason to believe she won’t beat that with the tremendous momentum she has at the moment.
While Lizzo saved that hit track for late in the set, the entire 11-song performance was simply mind-blowing both in the singular devotion Lizzo’s fans have for the singer, belting out lyrics to most songs throughout the nearly one-hour show.
The body-positive artist is adept at hip-hop, rap, soul and heartfelt vocal delivery, meaning every word she sings in an earnest, charismatic style that is quickly becoming irresistible to even the most curmudgeonly music fans. Her appeal is wide and relevant in this age of political war on women. This is an artist who was once homeless and destitute, who rose to the top. There isn’t a better story in music happening anywhere. Lizzo is pervasively influencing the entire industry in a way no one expected but each of us embraces. She’s a hard-talking, sweet-intentioned goddess sent to save music one fragile ego at a time.
Even Missy Elliot has taken Lizzo under her wing. With songs like “Jerome” that appeared midway through he set that demonstrate her well-rounded musical prowess, Lizzo showed she’s flexible enough to have staying power. She wound up her just over 50 minute set by whipping out her flute (she played in high school) before closing out with current hit, “Truth Hurts” surrounded by her Lizzo dancers; she truly looked regal basking in the adoration of the ACL Fest throngs who bounced to the beat. The set closed with the monster hit “Juice” (our personal favorite), and it felt like the park would explode with joy before Lizzo jauntily walked off stage to roars of approval.
All photos by Maggie Boyd.
